Pope’s visit met with joy, violent protests in Brazil

POLARIZATION:The pontiff was received by thousands of jubilant pilgrims, but the celebrations gave way to riots fed by anger at the state and the visit’s US$53m cost

AFP, RIO DE JANEIRO

Pope Francis greets hundreds of pilgrims from his popemobile in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Monday.

Photo: EPA

Pope Francis got a rapturous welcome from tens of thousands of pilgrims on Monday as he arrived in Brazil on his first foreign trip as pontiff, but violent protests later swept the streets.

The 76-year-old Argentine rode in a open-top jeep through the center of Rio de Janeiro in the start of a week-long visit to a country whose Catholic numbers are slipping and in which economic progress has recently been joined by social unrest.

Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, was cheered by throngs of the faithful, but police used tear gas, water cannons and stun grenades to disperse scores of rioters hurling firebombs after the Catholic leader met with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff at the Rio State governor’s palace.

Earlier, police blocked access to the palace as hundreds of Anonymous “hacktivists” and gay militants rallied to denounce Rio State Governor Sergio Cabral’s policies as well as the US$53 million spent on the pope’s visit.

“Go away Cabral, go away Dilma,” the demonstrators chanted while waving a huge banner that read: “Down with the fascist state and its anti-people governments.”

Rousseff’s popularity has plunged amid frustrations with corruption, poor public services and slowing economic growth. The leftist leader has acknowledged the social discontent, saying Brazil’s youth was fighting for “a new society.”

After massive protests spiraled into violence in recent weeks, authorities are keen to ensure an incident-free visit for the pontiff, who will attend World Youth Day — an event initiated in 1985 by pope John Paul II — which officially began yesterday and is expected to attract 1.5 million young Roman Catholics.

Despite the heavy security, with 30,000 soldiers and police mobilized, several people were able to stop the pope’s convoy and touch him through his open window. The pontiff shook people’s hands and kissed babies.

The threat of danger was heightened when the Brazilian army announced that soldiers had discovered an explosive device during a training session on Sunday in a bathroom at the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida in Sao Paulo State, which the pope is to visit today.

The homemade device was destroyed and authorities said it was nowhere near the area where the pope or pilgrims will congregate.

Pope Francis, who carried his own luggage on to the papal plane, has come to Brazil to promote his vision of a more humble church.

Excitement about his first overseas visit brought huge crowds into the streets, chanting: “Long live the pope,” singing and waving the national flags of Argentina and other countries.

“I am so excited and so proud. He is our pope, the first from Latin America,” said 27-year-old Norma More, who traveled from Paraguay.

The pope, first in a small four-door car and then in the jeep, waved at the crowd after deciding to leave his armored “Popemobile” behind, a decision that unnerved Brazilian authorities.

“I have learned that, to gain access to the Brazilian people, it is necessary to pass through its great heart; so let me knock gently at this door,” Francis said at the governor’s palace.

“I ask permission to come in and spend this week with you. I have neither silver nor gold, but I bring with me the most precious thing given to me: Jesus Christ,” said the pope, who is to lead an open-air sermon on Copacabana Beach tomorrow.